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Choosing a PONANT cruise is not simply a matter of selecting a destination and date. The ship you choose can have a significant effect on the way you experience the journey.
PONANT operates a fleet of small luxury ships, but they are not all designed for exactly the same purpose. Some are particularly suited to luxury cruising, culture and smaller ports, while others are designed for expedition voyages, wildlife encounters and remote destinations.
The best ship for you depends on where you want to go, how you want to travel and what you want to do once you get there.
This guide will help you understand the differences and narrow down your choices before you look at individual ships and itineraries.
At a Glance
| If you want... | Start by considering... |
|---|---|
| Luxury, fine dining and relaxation | Luxury yacht |
| Cultural discovery and historic ports | Luxury yacht |
| Smaller ports and more intimate destinations | Luxury yacht or expedition-capable ship |
| Wildlife and remote landscapes | Expedition ship |
| Zodiac adventures and shore exploration | Expedition ship |
| Antarctica | Polar expedition ship |
| Arctic exploration | Expedition-capable or polar expedition ship |
| A particularly intimate shipboard experience | Smaller PONANT vessel |
| Maximum expedition capability | Le Commandant Charcot or an expedition-focused vessel |
| Help comparing individual ships | Choosing the Right Ship |
On a large conventional cruise ship, the ship can sometimes feel like a destination in itself.
PONANT is different.
Its small-ship philosophy means that the ship is an important part of the destination experience. A smaller vessel can access ports and waterways that are unavailable to larger cruise ships, while expedition-capable vessels can take you beyond conventional cruise routes.
The differences between ships can also affect:
- The type of destinations you can visit
- Access to smaller ports and remote areas
- The style of shore excursions
- Zodiac operations and expedition activities
- The level of expedition capability
- The atmosphere onboard
- The number of passengers
- Dining and accommodation options
- The overall balance between luxury and exploration
That is why it is worth choosing the style of ship first, before becoming too focused on an individual vessel.
Where Do You Want to Go?
The easiest way to narrow down your ship choice is often to start with the destination.
Your destination will immediately eliminate some possibilities.
A Mediterranean voyage through historic ports requires a different type of ship from an expedition to Antarctica. A Kimberley voyage may require different expedition capabilities from a voyage through the South Pacific.
Destination Can Determine Ship Choice
| Destination or Region | What to Look For |
|---|---|
| Mediterranean | Luxury yacht with excellent access to smaller ports |
| Northern Europe | Luxury yacht or expedition-capable ship |
| Asia | Luxury yacht or expedition-capable ship |
| Australia & South Pacific | Small luxury yacht or expedition-capable vessel |
| Kimberley | Expedition capability, Zodiac operations and small-ship access |
| Antarctica | Purpose-built polar expedition capability |
| Arctic | Expedition capability and appropriate ice-strengthening |
| Remote Islands and Wilderness Regions | Expedition capability and flexible shore operations |
The destination should therefore be one of the first things you consider when choosing your PONANT ship.
Once you know where you want to travel, you can start asking what sort of ship will deliver the best experience there.
For many travellers, the most important decision is whether they are looking primarily for a luxury yacht experience or an expedition experience.
There is some overlap between the two, but the emphasis can be very different.
Luxury Yacht Cruising
PONANT's luxury yachts are particularly appealing if you want to combine:
- Elegant accommodation
- Fine dining
- Relaxation
- Personal service
- Cultural discovery
- Historic ports
- Smaller destinations
- A sophisticated onboard atmosphere
These cruises are about enjoying the journey as much as the destination.
You may spend your days exploring historic towns, visiting cultural sites, dining ashore or simply enjoying the ship.
Expedition Cruising
Expedition cruising puts greater emphasis on exploration and access.
It is particularly suited to travellers who want:
- Wildlife encounters
- Remote landscapes
- Zodiac excursions
- Shore landings
- Naturalist-led exploration
- Photography
- Adventure
- Places that are difficult to reach by conventional cruise ship
Expedition cruising does not mean sacrificing luxury. PONANT's expedition ships are still designed around a high level of comfort and service.
The difference is that the ship is equipped to take you further into the destination.
Luxury Yacht or Expedition Ship?
The distinction is useful, but it should not be treated as a rigid dividing line.
Many PONANT voyages combine luxury with genuine exploration.
| If Your Priority Is... | Consider... |
|---|---|
| Fine dining and relaxation | Luxury yacht |
| Culture and history | Luxury yacht |
| Smaller ports | Luxury yacht or expedition-capable ship |
| Wildlife | Expedition ship |
| Remote landscapes | Expedition ship |
| Antarctica | Polar expedition ship |
| Arctic exploration | Expedition-capable ship |
| Zodiac adventures | Expedition ship |
| A balance of luxury and exploration | Expedition-capable ship |
The important question is not simply “Which ship is the most luxurious?”
It is:
Which ship will give me the experience I want from this particular destination?
PONANT's small-ship philosophy is one of its major advantages.
But even within a small-ship fleet, there are differences in passenger capacity and atmosphere.
Smaller ships
Smaller vessels can provide:
- A more intimate atmosphere
- Fewer passengers
- A highly personal experience
- Access to particularly small ports and destinations
- A strong sense of being on a private yacht
Larger PONANT ships
Larger vessels can offer:
- More onboard facilities
- A greater choice of public spaces
- More accommodation categories
- Larger expedition and operational facilities on suitable ships
- The advantages of a small ship while still providing additional space and facilities
Neither is automatically better.
The right size depends on the type of experience you want.
Your preferred activities can be just as important as the ship itself.
Ask yourself:
Do you want to...
Explore wildlife?
Look for expedition ships with strong Zodiac and naturalist capabilities.
Visit remote landscapes?
Prioritise ships designed for expedition operations.
Explore Antarctica or the Arctic?
The ship's polar capability becomes one of the most important considerations.
Visit historic cities and cultural destinations?
A luxury yacht may provide the ideal balance of comfort, access and cultural discovery.
Spend time swimming, relaxing and enjoying the ship?
Look closely at the onboard facilities and atmosphere.
Take part in Zodiac excursions and landings?
Focus on expedition-capable vessels and the nature of the itinerary.
The best ship is therefore not necessarily the one with the longest list of facilities.
It is the ship whose capabilities match the way you want to travel.
PONANT's fleet includes several different ship types and configurations, from elegant sailing yacht experiences through to highly capable polar expedition vessels.
Rather than trying to choose from every ship at once, it is easier to narrow the fleet down by asking three questions:
1. Where are you going?
Your destination determines which ships operate there and what level of expedition capability may be required.
2. How do you want to travel?
Decide whether your priority is primarily luxury cruising, expedition, or a combination of both.
3. What matters most onboard?
Consider passenger numbers, accommodation, dining, public spaces, wellness facilities and the overall atmosphere.
Once you have answered these questions, comparing individual ships becomes much easier.
For the complete fleet reference, visit our [PONANT Ships Guide].
Once you have established the type of ship you want, the next step is to compare individual vessels.
This is where our Choosing the Right Ship guide takes over.
It looks more closely at the differences between individual PONANT ships and helps you decide which vessel is likely to suit your priorities.
You can compare factors such as:
- Ship size
- Passenger capacity
- Expedition capability
- Polar capability
- Accommodation
- Restaurants
- Public spaces
- Wellness facilities
- Outdoor areas
- Swimming pools
- Zodiacs and expedition facilities
- Overall atmosphere
Ready to compare individual ships?
Go to: Choosing the Right PONANT Ship
If you simply want to understand the fleet and see what each vessel offers, use our PONANT Ships Guide instead.
PONANT's Fleet
| Ship | Style | Approx. Guests | Best Known For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Le Commandant Charcot | Polar Expedition | 270 | Advanced polar exploration and extreme destinations |
| Le Ponant | Sailing Yacht | 32 | Intimate sailing and exclusive destinations |
| Le Lapérouse | Luxury Yacht | 184 | Small-ship luxury and exploration |
| Le Champlain | Luxury Yacht | 184 | Luxury cruising and cultural discovery |
| Le Bougainville | Luxury Yacht | 184 | Elegant small-ship cruising |
| Le Dumont-d'Urville | Luxury Yacht | 184 | Exploration and cultural discovery |
| Le Jacques Cartier | Luxury Yacht | 184 | Luxury and destination-focused cruising |
| Le Bellot | Luxury Yacht | 184 | Intimate luxury and exploration |
| Le Boréal | Luxury Yacht | 264 | Classic PONANT small-ship cruising |
| Le Soléal | Luxury Yacht / Expedition | 264 | Remote destinations and exploration |
| Le Lyrial | Luxury Yacht | 244 | Luxury cruising and cultural discovery |
| Le Austral | Luxury Yacht / Expedition | 264 | Exploration and destination discovery |
| Le Paul Gauguin | Luxury Yacht | 330 | French Polynesia and South Pacific luxury cruising |
Sometimes the destination makes the decision much easier.
For example, if you are planning:
Antarctica
Your priority should be a ship with the appropriate polar expedition capability, Zodiac operations and expedition infrastructure.
The Kimberley
You will want to consider expedition capability, Zodiac operations, small-ship access and the ability to explore the Kimberley's rivers, reefs and remote coastline.
The Arctic
Look for appropriate expedition and ice capabilities, combined with the facilities and level of comfort you prefer.
Mediterranean & Europe
Luxury, cultural discovery, smaller ports and the ability to get closer to historic destinations may be more important than extreme expedition capability.
Australia & South Pacific
The choice can vary considerably depending on whether you want cultural discovery, remote islands, wildlife or a more traditional luxury yacht experience.
This is why destination and ship selection should be considered together rather than separately.
BlueSun Insight
Don't choose a ship simply because it looks the most luxurious.
The best PONANT ship is the one that matches the experience you want from your destination.
For a Mediterranean cruise, you may place greater importance on dining, service, accommodation and access to smaller ports. For Antarctica or the Kimberley, expedition capability, Zodiacs and the ability to operate in remote environments become far more important.
After more than 30 years specialising in small-ship and expedition cruising, our advice is simple: choose the experience first, then choose the ship that can deliver it.
f you are starting from scratch, follow this simple process.
Step 1 — Choose your destination
Where do you want to go?
Step 2 — Decide what sort of experience you want
Are you primarily interested in luxury and cultural discovery, expedition and wildlife, or a combination of the two?
Step 3 — Consider expedition capability
If you are travelling to remote or polar destinations, this can become one of the most important factors.
Step 4 — Think about ship size
Would you prefer the intimacy of a smaller vessel or the additional facilities and space of a larger PONANT ship?
Step 5 — Compare individual ships
Now that you have narrowed down your requirements, use Choosing the Right Ship to compare the vessels that fit your needs.
Step 6 — Compare itineraries
Finally, compare the actual itineraries, dates and ports of call.
The itinerary remains critical.
The perfect ship on the wrong itinerary is not the perfect cruise.
When it comes to choosing a PONANT ship, there are bound to be many questions. Here are a few frequent questions that our PONANT experts have answered.
Have a read of some of these basic FAQs but feel free to reach out and call us any time: 1300 799 758.
No. Different PONANT ships have different capabilities, and some destinations require specific expedition or polar capabilities.
The best choice depends on the expedition and itinerary, but Antarctica requires a ship with appropriate polar expedition capability. Your choice should also take into account the style of expedition you want.
For the Kimberley, expedition capability, Zodiac operations, small-ship access and the ability to explore remote coastal and river environments are particularly important.
PONANT offers both luxury yacht and expedition-style experiences, with considerable overlap between the two. Many PONANT voyages combine a high level of luxury with genuine exploration.
Not necessarily. Smaller ships can provide a particularly intimate experience and access to smaller destinations, while larger PONANT ships can provide additional facilities and space. The right choice depends on your priorities.
Start with this Choosing a PONANT Ship guide, then move to our Choosing the Right Ship page for a more detailed comparison of individual vessels.
Our PONANT Ships Guide provides the fleet reference, including information about individual ships, their facilities and their capabilities.
Once you have narrowed down your ship, continue planning your cruise with our other guides:
Choosing Your Cruise
Understand the complete decision-making process, from cruise style and destination through to ship, experience and itinerary.
Choosing the Right Cruise Style
Explore the differences between luxury cruising, expedition cruising and different types of PONANT experiences.
PONANT Ships Guide
Explore the PONANT fleet and learn more about each individual ship.
Choosing the Right Ship
Compare individual PONANT ships and find the vessel that best matches your requirements.
Choosing a PONANT Destination
Explore PONANT destinations and discover where each type of cruise can take you.
Choosing a PONANT Experience
Discover the different experiences available, from wildlife and expedition cruising to culture, cuisine and wellness.
Choosing a PONANT ship should not be complicated.
Once you know where you want to go, how you want to travel and what matters most to you, the choice becomes much clearer.
BlueSun Travel has specialised in luxury and expedition cruising for more than 30 years. We can help you look beyond the brochure and match the destination, itinerary, ship and experience to what you actually want from your holiday.
Not sure which PONANT ship is right for you?
Talk to BlueSun Travel and let us help you narrow down the choices.
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